Organizations from all over the state were included among the 28 organizations selected to receive a grant this year. From St. Mary’s Food Bank in Boise (receiving $4,850 for additional refrigeration capacity) to the Bonner Community Food Bank in Sandpoint (receiving $3,500 to help fund the Backpack program for children who need weekend food during the school year) all the way to Aids for Friends, Inc. in Pocatello (receiving $2,271 to help with food storage and distribution at their food shelter).

The Idaho Food Bank Fund was established by the 2009 Legislature as a cooperative effort between three well-respected statewide Idaho nonprofit organizations: The Idaho Foodbank, Community Action Partnership Association of Idaho and Catholic Charities of Idaho. The donation opportunity has been on the Idaho State Income Tax Form 40 since 2009 allowing taxpayers to designate a donation to the Fund.

The generous donations from Idaho’s taxpayers allowed the Fund’s Executive Committee to distribute $110,496, up from $100,000 in 2013, $99,912.71 in 2012 and $78,100 during the fund’s first year (2011).

The demand for food assistance remains high across the state, which puts the resources of food providers large and small under strain. The Idaho Food Bank Fund’s goal is to provide critically needed financial assistance and immediate help to the nonprofits that assist our food insecure friends and neighbors.

Qualified applicants for the grants must be 501(c) (3) organizations but are not required to have any connection with Community Action Partnership of Idaho, Catholic Charities of Idaho or The Idaho Foodbank.

For more information about the grants email grants@idahofoodbank.org. The next grant application period will be July 1-31, 2015